99 TOM’S EXPERIENCE 
before it came. | added such articles of furniture te: 
the somewhat limited supply we had brought with us 
as seemed necessary for our comfort in any kind of 
weather. [ laid in a sufficient supply of fuel for any 
emergency. During the warm days of the fall we 
used very little of this, for we found that with a lit- 
tle preparation, in the way of twisting and tying in 
knots, we could make prairie hay answer the pur- 
pose, and the cost was very small. And so we saved 
our fuel for colder weather. 
And right here is as good a place as any for me to 
say afew words of simple justice to my good wife, 
to whose brave heart, wise counsels, and cheerful © 
bearmg I oweso much. How much she did with our 
meager stock of furniture to make our little home 
bright and cheerful; how bravely she labored, and 
with what courage she met all discouragements and 
reverses, | have not words to express. She has been 
more than a helpmeet, and to her is largely due the 
credit for whatever success has attended us _ here. 
Her work was hard, for help could not always be had 
when needed; but she did it bravely and cheerfully, 
and with never a word of complaining. I suppose 
she was homesick sometimes—it would be but natural 
—but if so, the feeling was hidden beneath a bright 
smile or a cheery song. In our home there was. 
always sunshine. 
BAOKSETTING. 
As soon as possible I went to work backsetting the 
ground I had broken in the summer, and with some 
